United Nations | Good News For Humankind

46 countries sign the Montreal Protocol in historic move to restore the ozone layer

By Peter Schulte / September 17, 1987 / Archive of Human Genius

The Montreal Protocol on Substances That Deplete the Ozone Layer is an international treaty designed to protect the ozone layer by phasing out the production of numerous substances that are responsible for ozone depletion. It was agreed on 16 September 1987 and entered into force on 1 January 1989. The ozone treaty has since been ratified by 198 parties, making it the first universally ratified treaty in United Nations history.

31 countries sign the Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals

By Peter Schulte / November 8, 1986 / Archive of Human Genius

In 1968, the United Nations adopted the Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals, marking a historic moment in international road safety. The treaty was designed to harmonize traffic signs,

The UN Development Programme is launched

By Peter Schulte / November 22, 1965 / Good news links, Archive of Human Genius

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is a United Nations agency tasked with helping countries eliminate poverty and achieve sustainable economic growth, and human development. Based at United Nations Headquarters in New York City, it is the largest U.N. development aid agency, with offices in 177 countries. As the poor are disproportionately affected by environmental degradation and lack of access to clean, affordable water, sanitation, and energy services, UNDP also seeks to address a wide range of environmental and conservation issues.

The universal declaration of human rights 10 December 1948

The world’s nations adopt the Universal Declaration on Human Rights

By Peter Schulte / December 10, 1948 / Archive of Human Genius

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights sets out, for the first time, fundamental human rights to be universally protected and it has been translated into over 500 languages.

The first session of the UN General Assembly convenes

By Peter Schulte / January 11, 1946 / Archive of Human Genius

The United Nations General Assembly is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations (UN), serving as the main deliberative, policymaking, and representative organ of the UN and the international community.

The United Nations formally establishes the International Court of Justice

By Peter Schulte / June 25, 1945 / Good news links

The International Court of Justice (ICJ), colloquially the World Court, is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations. It settles legal disputes submitted to it by states and provides advisory opinions on legal questions referred to it by other UN organs and specialized agencies. The ICJ is the only international court that adjudicates general disputes between countries, with its rulings and opinions serving as primary sources of international law. Established in June 1945 by the Charter of the United Nations, the Court began work in April 1946.